Automatic circuit-interrupter.



No. 656,45I. Patented Aug. 2|, I900.

.L. FLElSCHM-ANN.

AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT lNTERBUP-TEB.

(Application filed July 12, 1899.)

(No Model.)

Witnesses. Inventor.

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NIT-ED TATES I PATENT OFFICE.

LIONEL ELEIsOi-IMANN, OE SCHENEGTADY, NEW YORK, AssrenoR TO THE GENERALELEOTRIO COMPANY, on NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT-INTERRUPTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 656,451, dated August21, 1900.

Application filed July 12, 1899. Serial No- 723,5S6. (N0 model.)

T0 ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LIONEL FLEISOHMANN, acitizen of the United States,residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Circuit-Interrupters, (Case No. 1,201,) of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to automatic circuitinterrupters responsive tooverload conditions of an electric circuit.

.The invention is especially applicable to fuses.

In carrying out the invention I inclose airtight in an envelop or tube abody of combustible or explosive gas or gaseous mixture and a conductorcapable of being heated or fused by current of abnormal strength in thecircuit for which the device is designed. The terminals oroircuitconnections with the conductor are led through the walls of the tube.The gaseous mixture I prefer to employ is one composed of oxygen andhydrogen in such proportions as will be capable of uniting to form Waterwhen sufficient heat is furnished to promote the union. In the best formof my invention I employ a glass tube or envelop having thin walls, theends of which are provided with metallic caps to promote easy inclusionin an electric circuit, the fuse-wire or cut-out controlling devicebeing led through an all-glass seal in the ends of the tube, a pair ofauxiliary terminals being sealed into the glass in a small capsule orenlargement, which is initially charged with a small quantity of wateror acidulated solution of water. By means of these terminals the watermay be decomposed by an initial application of a direct current intooxygen and hydrogen, which of course will produce the gases in definiteproportions capable of recombining when a directive influence suppliesthe necessary heat. An organization of this kind is included in anelectric circuit, and when an abnormal current flows the fuse melts andthe are formed determines the union of the gases with explosiveviolence, rupturing the inclosure or envelop and blowing out the arc.

My invention therefore comprises an automatic cut-out consisting of agas-tight inclosure containing an explosive gaseous body and having athin conductor or fuse extending therethrough.

It comprises other features of novelty,which 5 5 will be hereinaftermore fully described, and definitely indicated in the claims appended tothe specification.

In the drawing which illustrates my invention, 1 represents an envelop,preferably formed of glass, which admits of all the parts beinginspected and from its brittleness forms a good medium to respond to theexplosive pressure of the gases. At the ends of the tube are providedmetal thimbles or caps2 2, 6 5 which may be shrunk or cemented fast.Electrically connected with these terminal thimblcs is a conductor orfuse 8,extending through the tube and sealed air-tight in its ends. It vis better to provide an all-glass seal, for which purpose it will beadvisable to employ at the points where the conductor leads through theglass a metal whose ratio of expansion is substantially the same as thatof glass. Platinum will best serve this purpose, though its 7 5employment would be forbidden on the ground of cost. Iron, copper, orother suitable metal may be employed. The fuse itself is formed of somereadily-fusible material, such as is commonly employed for fuses andwhich is well known in the art. The invention, however, is notrestricted to an application in which the conductor is fused under theinfluence of abnormal current, but may also be employed in connectionwith such gases as may be fired by a red or white heat and the ruptureof the envelop be relied upon to produce a change in the circuit.

In a suitable portion of the tube is blown a small bulb or cavity(indicated at 4:) de- 0 signed to receive a few drops of water or adilute solution of sulfuric acid or other electrolyte. Into the walls ofthe chamber at its enlargement are sealed two terminals 55, by which anelectrolytic action upon the liquid 5 may be set up by suitableconnection with an external source of current. The apparatus as thusconstituted is especially designed for employment with such gases asresult from electrolytic decomposition. For example, if

acidulated water be placed in the enlargement and it be electrolyticallydecomposed oxygen and hydrogen will be set free and will be diffusedthrough the air in the chamber. The gases will not, however, recombineuntil a determined cause be furnished. The electric are or spark actsperfectly for this purpose, and when the fuse is overloaded the gasesare touched off and recombine with explosive violence, rupturing theWalls of the envelop and expulsively extinguishing the are.

It is not absolutely essential that an allglass seal be provided for theconductors Where they pass into the envelop, the only prerequisite beingthat the gases shall be kept from diffusing into the atmosphere outsidethe envelop. Obviously, therefore, under some conditions an ordinarilyair-tight joint will be sufficient.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is

1. An automatic cut-out, comprising a gastight inclosure containing anexplosive gaseous body and a thin conductor within the inclosure,,andterminals connected with the con ductor extending outside of theinclosure.

2. An automatic cut-out comprising a gastight inclosure containing anexplosive gaseous body, a fuse within the inclosure, and terminalsextending through the walls of the inclosure to permit inclusion of thefuse within an electric circuit.

3. An automatic cut-out comprising a gastightinclosurecontainingacombustible gaseous body, and a fuse extending through theinclosure having terminals extending air-tight through its Walls.

4. An automatic cut-out comprising a gastight inclosure containing twogases capable of chemical combination under heat, and a thin conductorhavin terminals extending O gas-tlght outside of the inclosure.

5. An automatic cut-out comprising a gastight inclosure containing twogases capableof chemical combination under heat, and a fuse within theinclosure and having terminals extending gastight through its walls.

6. An automatic cut-out comprising a gastight inclosure, a fuse withinthe inclosure having terminals extending gas-tight through its Walls, aliquid-receptacle within the inclosure, aliquid Within the same and twocon ductors extending from without into said receptacle, as and for thepurpose described.

7. An automatic cut-out comprising agastight inclosure, a fuse withinthe inclosure having terminals extending gas-tight through its walls, aliquid-receptacle within the inclosure, two conductors extending fromwithout into said receptacle, and an electrolyte decomposable into gaseswithin said receptacle.

8. An automatic cut-out comprising a gastight inclosure, a fuse withinthe inclosure having terminals extendinggas-tight through its walls, aliquid-receptacle within the inclosure, two conductors extending fromwithout into said receptacle, and an electrolyte decomposable intooxygen and hydrogen within said receptacle.

9. An automatic cut-out comprising a glass inclosure containing a fusehaving terminals extending outside of the inclosure and sealed into itsWalls, said inclosure containing an explosive gaseous body.

10. Anautomaticcut-outcomprisingaglass tube, metallic caps at the endsof the tube, a fuse within the tube having terminals sealed into its endwalls, and an explosive gas within the tube.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of July,1899.

LIONEL FLEISOHMANN. lVitnesses:

BENJAMIN 1;. HULL, MABE E. JAGOBSON.

